Tampa, Fla. (970 WFLA)-The National Football League today released its 2017 preseason slate, announcing the match-ups that will take place each week, with exact game dates and times to be confirmed after the finalization of the national broadcast schedule.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open preseason play on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 (August 10-14). It will be the 14th preseason meeting between the clubs, the fourth-most in Tampa Bay franchise history. The Buccaneers have won nine of those contests, including two of three on the road. The trip will mark Tampa Bay’s first visit to Paul Brown Stadium since a regular season match-up in 2010. The two teams have not played a preseason game in Cincinnati since 1995.
For the second consecutive year, the Buccaneers will visit Jacksonville in Week 2, in a game that will be broadcast live on ESPN on Thursday, August 17, at 8 p.m. ET. The Buccaneers defeated the Jaguars in last year’s preseason meeting, 27-21.
The Buccaneers will return to Raymond James Stadium in Week 3 (August 24-27), where they will take on the Cleveland Browns for the second consecutive preseason. Tampa Bay won the 2016 contest, 30-13, to take a 5-4 preseason series lead between the two clubs.
Tampa Bay will close the preseason in Week 4 (August 31-September 1) at home against the Washington Redskins. It will mark the fifth time in six years the two teams square off in the preseason finale, with 2015 being the lone exception. The contest will be the 15th preseason meeting between the two clubs, making Washington the Buccaneers’ third-most frequent opponent, trailing only Miami (30) and Atlanta (16).
Click here for more info on the Bucs pre-season games
Graphic Credit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NFL